Meanwhile, back in the Diaspora...

CNSNews: 'Lost Jewish Tribe' in India Soon To Move To Israel

Jerusalem (CNSNews.com) - More than 200 members of a "lost" Jewish tribe are set to immigrate to Israel next month from northeastern India in what some here say is nothing less than a miracle of biblical proportions.

"This is a project of national and historical and even theological significance," said Michael Freund, chairman and founder of Shavei Israel, an organization that helps communities around the world return to their Jewish roots and to Israel.

He said the Bnei Menashe (children of Manasseh) were descendants of one of the 10 "lost tribes" of Israel.

"Their ancestors were exiled from the land 27 centuries ago, and despite wandering for so long and so far, they managed to preserve their sense of Jewish identity and now, just as the prophets foretold, we are witnessing their return. It is a miracle."

Nearly 1,000 Bnei Menashe have immigrated to Israel in a mere trickle through various conversion/immigration plans worked out over the last 15 years or so. Another 218 are scheduled to arrive in November. But there are 7,000 more still waiting to come to Israel.

Their story began 2,700 years ago in Bible times when the Jewish people in Israel were divided into two kingdoms. Around 723 B.C. the Assyrians conquered the northern Kingdom of Israel and captured 10 of the 12 Hebrew tribes.

Some 75 percent of the Jewish nation was exiled and disappeared, said Freund. They became known as the "10 lost tribes."

The community in India always referred to themselves as Bnei Menashe (the children of Manasseh) and it was a central theme in all their ancient prayers and chants, Freund told Cybercast News Service.

According to their tradition, they spent several centuries in China until a despotic emperor persecuted them and seized their holy book. They then settled in India, Freund said.

Recently, about 100 members of the community already living here gathered to celebrate the Succoth holiday. Many live in settlements in disputed territory, including a number of families that were evacuated last year from the Gaza Strip.

Some dressed in brightly colored traditional Indian clothing and sang traditional Indian songs with gusto. At the gathering they learned that their kinsmen would be coming to Israel soon.